“But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.”
Mark 14:70-72 ESV
I can pray with and to my God Jesus and say I “know” Him when I am alone and not challenged by my sinful heart (by God’s grace at times), but like Peter, because of my sinful heart, when I am challenged by/with others, I can obey my sinful heart and listen to it and repeat the curses that it tells me, and I repeat those curses to myself, and then say I don’t know Jesus. I worship my sin over worshipping Jesus.
Then while I am insulting myself and Jesus, Jesus says: “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Jesus knows me and knows I am insulting Him, YET He still forgives me, and wants to know me. By God’s power, for me at times, that can start to melt my heart for Him more, try to confess my sin in me to Him, ask for His forgiveness, remember my baptism in Him, rejoice in my sins are destroyed and my relationship with Him is right again, because of His works, try to get to enjoy and know Him and my relationship with Him, and try to do His will.
Not perfectly, as this can happen every other second at times, for me. By God’s grace, I am grateful He doesn’t let go of me out of His hand as He continues to prune me, even though it hurts, and I get to try to follow Him today.
Like
Pastor Steve
Jun 25
In reading Job (you know it isn't my favorite book), I am struck by how much I can identify with Job. I haven't done anything wrong. I am a good person. I love Jesus. We can tend to think that we deserve so much more than what God is giving us.
Then I read chapter 11 and the words of Zophar! You deserve worse! "My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in God's eyes" (11:4). I realized he might be a Lutheran pastor. Calling everyone a sinner when they claim to be good! He could day, "there are no good people" and possibly quote Romans 3!
There is a tension that we hold daily. I deserve nothing but death because of my sin! Yet, we strive to be good people as we let our lights shine. Because of our Baptism, we are pure and holy new creations! This tension, we can see in the book of Job. We do deserve to have Satan unleashed upon us. Yet, God in His divine mercy and goodness protects us - limits Satan. Beyond that, we know the end of the story and the deliverance and victory He has won for us!
The only remedy for suffering and evil is Jesus! We need Him. I need Him! Praise the Lord who has delivered me from this body of death (Rom 7:25)!
Like
Karlee
2d ago
Replying to
I promise I’m still reading! This plan has really helped me to have more discipline and it’s been fun “sharing” that time with the boys watching. What is striking me about Job is how we are known! God doesn’t hold our wrongs against us, fully knows us but loves us!
Like
Ben
Jun 20
“The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.”
Mark 8:11-13 ESV
I personally seem to be a Pharisee at trying to test Jesus/God, by trying to demand a sign from Him: “show me why I should trust You in my distress/pain,” or I might try to arouse His anger to maybe “get” Him to bend to my will by saying, “I HATE You, God! You are evil, self-absorbed, and prideful for only wanting me to worship You alone. Who do you think You are?” Obviously, I am wrong in that, it doesn’t get me anywhere, and continues to carry me further and further away from Him, until I am only deeper into my prideful misery.
However, I am grateful that He still pursues me, sent me the sign of Jonah, His Son Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the prophets, and so many daily signs that continue to try to “woo” me back to Him, not because I have done anything good, but because He is good, and gives me a new heart of flesh to really want Him alone. Him bearing the anguish of my sin, the experience of the Father forsaking Jesus and that Father/Son relationship breaking for a moment, still being compassionate to me saying: “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,” giving me Jesus’ righteousness, continuing to bear my future sins, and simply holding me in His arms even in my mess, by His Spirit, breaks my heart more, to just try to be content with Him, trust Him in my distress, and to submit to His plans and will. He is the hero, not me, and it is a blessing that He gives my soul ultimate rest. Asking my God to continue to guide me and to give me Him to be content where I am.
Edited
Like
Pastor Steve
Jun 22
Replying to
Ben, I couldn't help but smile. I often identify with the people that we are not supposed to be. I see the worst in my own struggles and such - must be the mirror of the law working well. When the disciples are getting it wrong, I feel like I am them. When the Pharisee's are at work, I find my hands along with theirs. But thanks be to God, Jesus saves us all! Well said, He seeks us! He "woos" us! He loves us! Amen!
Like
Ben
May 23
I can’t promise that I will be able to give a “Bible reading in a year” comment/thoughts on the readings every week, and I will try to do so. I missed a couple of days and weeks, however, by God’s grace, I am trying to catch up a little by little to try to be up to date with the yearly reading guide of reading through the Bible. Grateful I am saved by Christ’s works and not by me keeping the law.
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”
2 Peter 3:18 ESV
These scriptures are ripping my heart to pieces, and it sometimes physically hurts to hear the loving truth from God, and I don’t want to hear it, however, wounds from a Friend can be trusted. Asking my God to continue to give me the strength in my weaknesses to do His will with this all.
What hit me in this 2nd Peter verse, is that I have been growing in the law of religion and knowledge of my effort and of my false savior Ben (myself), instead of growing in the grace, knowledge of God, and of the true Savior Jesus Christ. Lately, I have been worshipping my self-centered pride, ego, and people-pleasing sins to “give” me “true” rest for my soul. It’s not working. It has caused me and others pain and harm. However, I am grateful that growing in the grace and knowledge of God (John 3:16) and of Jesus Christ, has been more fulfilling and more restful for my soul. Trying to see God’s heart for me is helping soften my heart of stone a little more. It’s refreshing to know my I am good enough in Christ’s works in His eyes, and that gives my soul rest. Not perfect on it at all, however, just continuing to ask God to help keep me and my soul safe in His arms and protect me from my evil heart, sin, the Devil, and the world’s attacks on me, and trying to try to let Him carry me through each day rather then try to carry myself. Grateful for God working through the comments that people share on this forum, because it helps me show I am not alone in my sufferings and walk with God. Thank you all.
Like
Pastor Steve
May 28
Replying to
It is so easy to shift into what I am doing or need to do...rather than remembering and relishing in what Jesus has done for me! Amen!
Like
Ben
May 03
“Then the king arose and took his seat in the gate. And the people were all told, “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” And all the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled every man to his own home. And all the people were arguing throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies and saved us from the hand of the Philistines, and now he has fled out of the land from Absalom. But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?””
the people of Israel said this after Absalom had died. Israel, who followed Absalom, now wants David back as king, shows how, respectfully, men can change human allegiances rather quickly. I know I have done something like this before in spirit, however, I appreciate the reminder that my allegiance needs to be only to God, and not to a human. I am grateful God doesn’t change, like how humans and other things in this world do change.
Like
Pastor Steve
May 06
Replying to
Who trusts in princes, or humanity will certainly be disappointed. But God is faithful in all things and throughout all time and eternity! Worthy of our trust indeed!
Like
Ben
Apr 25
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.”
I relate to this for me trying to gain righteousness through trying to keep the whole law. Grateful Christ has fulfilled the whole law in His heart, to give me His righteousness. Asking my God to help me give up my flesh and live in His Spirit.
Like
Pastor Steve
Apr 27
Replying to
I love this...we are now free to do the 10 Commandment!! I wish I did it perfectly, or even well....but we are free from the judgement and condemnation that the law brings!
Like
Ben
Apr 18
“yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified….. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.”
Galatians 2:16, 21 ESV
I am grateful for Paul to speak directly about righteousness is given to me by Christ’s works of keeping the law perfectly, not my works of me trying to keep the law. I obviously can’t, however, my ego/pride/heart deceives me by lying to me saying that I don’t need Christ and can earn righteousness by behaving well/obeying the law. It is a blessing that God, through His word (especially these verses), cuts to my heart, reminds me I can’t earn righteousness by my works, but only be given righteousness by God through the Holy Spirit enabling me to believe in Christ and what He has already accomplished. It is a blessing that He spells it out directly to me.
Like
Karlee
Apr 15
Galatians 4 "known by God" .... it's not that we know Him, it's that He knows us! This struck me today. We are KNOWN! It feels like like a deep word, to have someone know you or get you. And with that, He loves us and sent us His son.
Like
Ben
Apr 09
“In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”
I can identify on behaving/living like this: not submitting to God as my King and then essentially being my own king and determining what is right or wrong. For me, at times, I can be filled with much fear and anguish, that I really try to take matters into my own hands and live how I think I should live. Then my life usually turns into a mess. I have to give up my unwillingness to trust my God as King, and ask for the willingness to trust Him, to try to walk with Him to do His will even when I feel like I really can’t see where I am going, and asking Him to help me to remember that He will wipe away every tear, He will dwell with me forever and does now, and He leads me. Easier said than done, but trying to make progress on this.
Like
Pastor Steve
Apr 13
Replying to
I know there is so much truth in God's Word and I see that in my own life. I just don't like always being told what is right and in turn I end up doing my own thing. Yet, when we get it right, we consider others. This love for God and love for neighbor makes for better community and relationships...but my selfishness is natural. I pray we can do the unnatural thing!
Like
Ben
Apr 05
“Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the Lord. And he could bear Israel’s misery no longer.”
Judges 10:16 NIV
I could be wrong in my interpretation and understanding of this verse and the rest of Judges 10 leading up to this, however, this verse hit my heart. The fact that God (referred to the “he” pronoun in this verse, as I understand this) was bearing Israel’s misery, as Israel was being oppressed for 18 years from the Philistines and the Ammonites, just rocked my world, because it seems to me that God is experiencing the misery that Israel is experiencing. Isaiah expressed God experiencing Israel’s distress as mentioned in Isaiah 63:9 NIV: “In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.” My entire point of this all is: God experiences my pain and suffering in real time showing that I am literally spiritually and emotionally connected with God in my distress, which comforts me, because at least I am not alone in the pain, even if the pain doesn’t go away. That gives me hope to endure the pain, because at least I am connected to my God through this hardship, making memories of this all with Him, and being cared for in these sufferings by Him, respectfully.
Back to the Judges’ verse of God could bear Israel’s misery no longer, God then used Jephthah to deliver Israel from the Ammonites. God again was merciful to Israel by helping Israel overcome their oppressors. It shows to me how personal God is to me, walking through the hardships with me, and just showing how much He cares about me, for His glory and namesake. It is nice to see that expressed with Him resurrecting His Son today (Easter Sunday), for His glory and namesake, that I get to be part of His family forever.
“But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.”
Mark 14:70-72 ESV
I can pray with and to my God Jesus and say I “know” Him when I am alone and not challenged by my sinful heart (by God’s grace at times), but like Peter, because of my sinful heart, when I am challenged by/with others, I can obey my sinful heart and listen to it and repeat the curses that it tells me, and I repeat those curses to myself, and then say I don’t know Jesus. I worship my sin over worshipping Jesus.
Then while I am insulting myself and Jesus, Jesus says: “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Jesus knows me and knows I am insulting Him, YET He still forgives me, and wants to know me. By God’s power, for me at times, that can start to melt my heart for Him more, try to confess my sin in me to Him, ask for His forgiveness, remember my baptism in Him, rejoice in my sins are destroyed and my relationship with Him is right again, because of His works, try to get to enjoy and know Him and my relationship with Him, and try to do His will.
Not perfectly, as this can happen every other second at times, for me. By God’s grace, I am grateful He doesn’t let go of me out of His hand as He continues to prune me, even though it hurts, and I get to try to follow Him today.
In reading Job (you know it isn't my favorite book), I am struck by how much I can identify with Job. I haven't done anything wrong. I am a good person. I love Jesus. We can tend to think that we deserve so much more than what God is giving us.
Then I read chapter 11 and the words of Zophar! You deserve worse! "My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in God's eyes" (11:4). I realized he might be a Lutheran pastor. Calling everyone a sinner when they claim to be good! He could day, "there are no good people" and possibly quote Romans 3!
There is a tension that we hold daily. I deserve nothing but death because of my sin! Yet, we strive to be good people as we let our lights shine. Because of our Baptism, we are pure and holy new creations! This tension, we can see in the book of Job. We do deserve to have Satan unleashed upon us. Yet, God in His divine mercy and goodness protects us - limits Satan. Beyond that, we know the end of the story and the deliverance and victory He has won for us!
The only remedy for suffering and evil is Jesus! We need Him. I need Him! Praise the Lord who has delivered me from this body of death (Rom 7:25)!
“The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.”
Mark 8:11-13 ESV
I personally seem to be a Pharisee at trying to test Jesus/God, by trying to demand a sign from Him: “show me why I should trust You in my distress/pain,” or I might try to arouse His anger to maybe “get” Him to bend to my will by saying, “I HATE You, God! You are evil, self-absorbed, and prideful for only wanting me to worship You alone. Who do you think You are?” Obviously, I am wrong in that, it doesn’t get me anywhere, and continues to carry me further and further away from Him, until I am only deeper into my prideful misery.
However, I am grateful that He still pursues me, sent me the sign of Jonah, His Son Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the prophets, and so many daily signs that continue to try to “woo” me back to Him, not because I have done anything good, but because He is good, and gives me a new heart of flesh to really want Him alone. Him bearing the anguish of my sin, the experience of the Father forsaking Jesus and that Father/Son relationship breaking for a moment, still being compassionate to me saying: “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,” giving me Jesus’ righteousness, continuing to bear my future sins, and simply holding me in His arms even in my mess, by His Spirit, breaks my heart more, to just try to be content with Him, trust Him in my distress, and to submit to His plans and will. He is the hero, not me, and it is a blessing that He gives my soul ultimate rest. Asking my God to continue to guide me and to give me Him to be content where I am.
I can’t promise that I will be able to give a “Bible reading in a year” comment/thoughts on the readings every week, and I will try to do so. I missed a couple of days and weeks, however, by God’s grace, I am trying to catch up a little by little to try to be up to date with the yearly reading guide of reading through the Bible. Grateful I am saved by Christ’s works and not by me keeping the law.
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”
2 Peter 3:18 ESV
These scriptures are ripping my heart to pieces, and it sometimes physically hurts to hear the loving truth from God, and I don’t want to hear it, however, wounds from a Friend can be trusted. Asking my God to continue to give me the strength in my weaknesses to do His will with this all.
What hit me in this 2nd Peter verse, is that I have been growing in the law of religion and knowledge of my effort and of my false savior Ben (myself), instead of growing in the grace, knowledge of God, and of the true Savior Jesus Christ. Lately, I have been worshipping my self-centered pride, ego, and people-pleasing sins to “give” me “true” rest for my soul. It’s not working. It has caused me and others pain and harm. However, I am grateful that growing in the grace and knowledge of God (John 3:16) and of Jesus Christ, has been more fulfilling and more restful for my soul. Trying to see God’s heart for me is helping soften my heart of stone a little more. It’s refreshing to know my I am good enough in Christ’s works in His eyes, and that gives my soul rest. Not perfect on it at all, however, just continuing to ask God to help keep me and my soul safe in His arms and protect me from my evil heart, sin, the Devil, and the world’s attacks on me, and trying to try to let Him carry me through each day rather then try to carry myself. Grateful for God working through the comments that people share on this forum, because it helps me show I am not alone in my sufferings and walk with God. Thank you all.
“Then the king arose and took his seat in the gate. And the people were all told, “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” And all the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled every man to his own home. And all the people were arguing throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies and saved us from the hand of the Philistines, and now he has fled out of the land from Absalom. But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?””
2 Samuel 19:8-10 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/2sa.19.8-10.ESV
the people of Israel said this after Absalom had died. Israel, who followed Absalom, now wants David back as king, shows how, respectfully, men can change human allegiances rather quickly. I know I have done something like this before in spirit, however, I appreciate the reminder that my allegiance needs to be only to God, and not to a human. I am grateful God doesn’t change, like how humans and other things in this world do change.
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.”
Galatians 5:1-6 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/gal.5.1-6.ESV
I relate to this for me trying to gain righteousness through trying to keep the whole law. Grateful Christ has fulfilled the whole law in His heart, to give me His righteousness. Asking my God to help me give up my flesh and live in His Spirit.
“yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified….. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.”
Galatians 2:16, 21 ESV
I am grateful for Paul to speak directly about righteousness is given to me by Christ’s works of keeping the law perfectly, not my works of me trying to keep the law. I obviously can’t, however, my ego/pride/heart deceives me by lying to me saying that I don’t need Christ and can earn righteousness by behaving well/obeying the law. It is a blessing that God, through His word (especially these verses), cuts to my heart, reminds me I can’t earn righteousness by my works, but only be given righteousness by God through the Holy Spirit enabling me to believe in Christ and what He has already accomplished. It is a blessing that He spells it out directly to me.
Galatians 4 "known by God" .... it's not that we know Him, it's that He knows us! This struck me today. We are KNOWN! It feels like like a deep word, to have someone know you or get you. And with that, He loves us and sent us His son.
“In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”
Judges 17:6 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/jdg.17.6.ESV
I can identify on behaving/living like this: not submitting to God as my King and then essentially being my own king and determining what is right or wrong. For me, at times, I can be filled with much fear and anguish, that I really try to take matters into my own hands and live how I think I should live. Then my life usually turns into a mess. I have to give up my unwillingness to trust my God as King, and ask for the willingness to trust Him, to try to walk with Him to do His will even when I feel like I really can’t see where I am going, and asking Him to help me to remember that He will wipe away every tear, He will dwell with me forever and does now, and He leads me. Easier said than done, but trying to make progress on this.
“Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the Lord. And he could bear Israel’s misery no longer.”
Judges 10:16 NIV
I could be wrong in my interpretation and understanding of this verse and the rest of Judges 10 leading up to this, however, this verse hit my heart. The fact that God (referred to the “he” pronoun in this verse, as I understand this) was bearing Israel’s misery, as Israel was being oppressed for 18 years from the Philistines and the Ammonites, just rocked my world, because it seems to me that God is experiencing the misery that Israel is experiencing. Isaiah expressed God experiencing Israel’s distress as mentioned in Isaiah 63:9 NIV: “In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.” My entire point of this all is: God experiences my pain and suffering in real time showing that I am literally spiritually and emotionally connected with God in my distress, which comforts me, because at least I am not alone in the pain, even if the pain doesn’t go away. That gives me hope to endure the pain, because at least I am connected to my God through this hardship, making memories of this all with Him, and being cared for in these sufferings by Him, respectfully.
Back to the Judges’ verse of God could bear Israel’s misery no longer, God then used Jephthah to deliver Israel from the Ammonites. God again was merciful to Israel by helping Israel overcome their oppressors. It shows to me how personal God is to me, walking through the hardships with me, and just showing how much He cares about me, for His glory and namesake. It is nice to see that expressed with Him resurrecting His Son today (Easter Sunday), for His glory and namesake, that I get to be part of His family forever.